Northern India
Northern India
- Home
- /
- India Tours
- /
- Kerala Tour
9 Nights / 10 Days
Cochin – Munnar – Thekkady – Alleppey – Kumarakom
Welcome to the Backwaters Paradise of India – Kerala, and take up a relaxing backwater travel ride or take a tour of Kerala’s palm-fringed, wide sandy beaches. Visit the lush green tea gardens or wildlife sanctuaries and rediscover the true wonder built by nature in India.
Arrive in Cochin. Met on arrival and transferred to the hotel. Overnight
Morning, proceed for a sightseeing tour of Kochi, visiting Mattancherry Palace, Jewish Synagogue, Chinese Fishing Nets and Fort Kochi [Mattancherry Palace is closed on Fridays & Jewish Synagogue is closed on Fridays and Saturdays]
Cochin – Most sights of interest are found in Fort Kochi; these include Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese in 1557 and given to the Raja of Cochin in exchange for trading rights. In 1663 the Dutch renovated it, and today it houses a collection of artefacts that belonged to the Rajas of Kochi; it is, however, best known for the beautiful murals painted on the wooden walls, some of the most detailed and well preserved in the whole of India. For several centuries there were two Jewish communities living in Kochi, the ‘black Jews’ who settled here in 587 BC and the ‘white Jews’ who settled much later. Speaking Malayalam, the local dialect, they played a pivotal role as trading agents between the locals and any foreigners wishing to establish trade. As a result, the Jewish population became very wealthy; ‘Jew Town’, close to the Mattancherry Palace, is a fascinating area of the old town with its mixture of old shops, warehouses, spice auction rooms and the Jewish Synagogue.
Cochin , Kerala
Built in 1568, the Synagogue houses Torah and Old Testament scrolls as well as copper plates on which the Kochi rulers granted various privileges to the Jewish community. Today the Jewish population of Kochi numbers only around a dozen families. Visit St. Francis Church, originally dedicated to Santo Antonio, patron saint of Portugal. Vasco de Gama died on this site in 1524 and was buried in the cemetery, his body being taken to Portugal 14 years later. Renamed St. Francis in 1663 under the Dutch, it became a Protestant church and then, in 1804, it became Anglican. In 1949, the congregation joined the Church of South India. Be sure to see the famous 14th-15th century cantilevered Chinese fishing nets. Evening visit to Kochi Cultural Centre to see the Kathakali dance performance. Overnight
Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Munnar. On arrival in Munnar, check in at hotel. Afternoon free. Overnight
Morning visit to the Tata Tea Museum [Museum is closed on Mondays]
Munnar – The Tata Tea Museum in the Nallathanni Estate tells the eventful story of Munnar; its transformation from an uninhabited stretch of forest land to a plantation town. The highlights of the museum include old machinery used for tea processing, photographs and some other curious displays that throw light on the efforts of some adventurous planters who dared to conquer the wild with minimal equipment and few resources. Rotorvane, an old tea roller used in the CTC type tea processing, would be a wonder for even those associated with the modern tea industry.
There is a CTC tea manufacturing unit in the museum where visitors can get to know the old method of tea processing. However, the real treat here would be the tea tasting unit where one can savour a variety of flavours.
Also visit Mattupetty Dam and Eco Point. Rest of the day free at leisure with car and driver at disposal. Overnight
Munnar , Kerala
Following breakfast at the hotel, check-out from hotel and transfer by road to Thekkady
On arrival in Thekkady, check-in at the hotel. Afternoon visit Spice Garden and shop for some spices. Evening enjoy a Kalaripayattu show. Overnight
Morning, enjoy a boat ride at Lake Periyar.
Lake Periyar – The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar adds to the charm of the park. This is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar, however, is the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake. Afternoon free to relax. Overnight
Following breakfast at the hotel, drive to Alleppey and check in at your Houseboat for an overnight cruise
Alleppey – Alleppey, once called the Venice of the East by Marco Polo, was officially renamed Alappuzha in 1990, although it is still known by its former name. Situated at the southern end of Lake Vembanadu, the largest lake in India, Alleppey is the centre of Kerala’s coir and cashew nut industries. With an extensive network of canals passing through the town, Alleppey is known for backwater cruises and the region’s famous snake boat races.
Surrounded by verdant paddy fields, life in the outlying villages remains largely unchanged, and on a typical backwater cruise you can expect to see stunning lush landscapes, abundant flora and fauna, ornate churches and temples, traditional fishing methods and agriculture and plenty of smiling, friendly people. Overnight Houseboat.
Start cruising in the morning once again, and after Breakfast, drop off at your resort in Kumarakom. On arrival in Kumarakom, check in at the hotel. Rest of the day free at leisure. (No transport) Overnight stay at the hotel in Kumarakom.
Breakfast at the hotel. Day free at leisure. (No transport) Overnight stay at the hotel in Kumarakom
Breakfast at the hotel and in time transfer to the airport to connect a flight back home
FEATURED
Itineraries
Golden Triangle Tour
This tour of 7 days takes you to three famous destinations which are not only rich in culture but also in history
Karnataka & Goa
Covering Karnataka & Goa famous destinations which are not only rich in culture but also in history.
Kolkata-Assam & Meghalaya Trip
This tour of 12 days takes you to famous destinations which are not only rich in culture but also in history.
Rajasthan Tour With Taj Mahal
This tour of 15 days takes you to four famous destinations which are not only rich in culture but also in history.
The Grandeur Of Rajasthan
This tour of 15 days takes you to four famous destinations which are not only rich in culture but also in history.
Clasic India
Orchha-Khajuraho and Varanasi famous destinations which are not only rich in culture but also in history.
Kerala Tour
Visit the lush green tea gardens or wildlife sanctuaries and rediscover the true wonder built by nature in India.
